Dismountable picnic table



Feb. 23, 1954 F. J. MELGES DISMOUNTABLE PICNIC TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22 1951 INVENTOR Fre den: K J.Melges Feb. 23, 1954 J, MELGEs 2,670,031

DISMOUNTABLE PICNIC TABLE Filed Aug. 22, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ITETIJ INVENTOR Frederick J. Mel cs ORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATEg i' rtTENT OFFICE Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to leg suppported dismountable apparatus having a fiat top panel, and in its specific phases to a metal frame type of mobile and dismountable picnic table with detachable seats and top panel.

Picnic tables of the standard types are sometimes permanently located and built on posts driven into the ground with seats carried on the ends of cross supports nailed or bolted to said posts; are sometimes made in portable form from boards, logs, and sawed pieces nailed or bolted together to form a unit construction table with attached seats; and are sometimes made in conventional table form with separate benches for use with same. Those types of construction are relatively inconvenient for use during the summer, and of removal, reconditioning, and storing during the winter months, as well as putting back into use for the next summer season. It was a knowledge of these and other Well known shortcomings of the picnic table art, and a recognition of the need of an improved dismountaole picnic table having detachable seats which led to the conception and development of the present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a dismountable picnic table which is of attractive appearance, is stable in use, and occupies a relatively small space when dismounted ready for shipment or storage.

Another object is to provide a picnic table which, when assembled, is of strong and rigid construction, and is free from high cross-mounted supports for the seats and over which one must climb when it is desired to sit at the table and do so by sliding in from the end of the seat.

Another object is to provide a picnic table having two pairs of separable legs adapted to be joined together with removable cross braces which are under the central portion of the table when assembled.

Another object is to have outturned extensions on the lower end of the table legs and to provide rigidly anchored seat supports in upright position on said extensions, and removable seats mountable in bench form on said seat supports.

Another object is to provide a removable deck or table top assembly mountable on the upper end of said legs in position firmly held against side- Wise and endwise movement relative to said legs, and to further provide a simple locking member for releasably anchoring each corner of said table top to a leg so that when said table top is lifted the legs will move with it.

A further object is to provide such dismountable table with mobile means adapted for easy movement to a position elevating one end of said table ready for rolling to a new point of use, and which is equally easily released to return the table legs to ground contacting position.

A further object is to supply the bottom of the table legs with fiat faced supports which facilitate use of the table on loose sand or the like.

A further object is to provide a dismountable picnic table which is easy to construct, simple to assemble and disassemble, highly efficient in use, and of moderately low cost.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the dismountable apparatus hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but several of various ways which the principle of the invention may be used.

in the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred form of the dismountable picnic table of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the table illustrated in Figure 1, with one end of same mounted on a wheel assembly ready for movement to another point of use.

Figure 3 shows an end View of the assembly illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary portion of the table with the wheel assembly of Figures 2 and 3 disengaged so that the table legs can rest on the ground.

Figure 5 shows an end view of a preferred form of leg assembly.

Figure 6 shows a side view of the leg assembly of Figure 5.

Figure '7 shows a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the mounting assembly on the table top frame and which is adapted to connect to one of the table legs.

Figure 8 shows a fragmentary sectional View similar to that of Figure 7 but with the table leg connected to the table top by means of the mounting assembly.

Figure 9 shows a fragmentary side view of the assembly illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 shows a modified form of the wheel assembly illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that the dismountable table assembly 4 has a top assembly 2 utilizing a frame 3 on its under side and a top panel 4 which, for instance, may utilize boards in conventional manner as shown. Legs 5 are used for supporting each corner of the table top assembly, and those legs, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, consist of an upright portion 6 which extends into a foot portion I which, in turn, carries an upright support 8 for a seat 9, Figure 1, which is provided I with cross braces lOhaving sockets II in position on lower projecting arms 13 to rigidly fasten the" lower portion of a pair of the legs 5 together under conditions of use. The upper end of each of the legs 5 is provided with an anchor plate.l8,iFigure 6, with a notch I9 in itsi upper edge.

Mounted on frame 3, Figure '7, of the table top assembly 2, :in position. toengage thezupper. end of legs 5,. are -mounting assemblies -29. These mounting assembliespreferably utilize. an angle bracket 2! .fastened to frame member. 3 inconventional manner, such as with screws 35. This angle bracket in turn is provided with a sidewise projecting headed member 22 which is adapted to engageand pass into notch .89 in anchor plate l8 of leg 5. Suspended. from headed member 22 is a J-shaped locking member 23 which is adapted to be pivotally moved and to engage the under edge of anchor plate [8, .asshown in Figures 8 and.9, so that the end of the entire tableassembly can be lifted by grasping top assembly 2 and lifting upward on same If desired the foot portion 1 of legs 5 may be provided witha plug 34 to. keep dirt out of same; and with a ground contacting plate 24, Figure 1, which carries on its upper face a socket member 25. adaptedto receive theouter end .of foot portion-.1 of. the leg. .This type of. construction is especially advantageous where thetable isset on soft ground such as .dryloose sandwhich is .found at, many .parks andbeachesin the eating orcamping. area.

In order to make this table readily moyableby one..person,.same,may beprovided with .a wheel assembly, Figures 2, 3, 4, and -10. .This wheel assembly. utilizes a forked frame 27. adapted to rotatabl'ylmounta wheel 23 on .axle 29-.atits'lower. end. The upper end of the forked framehas a cross member 38 which terminates at .each end in. a tubular member3l adapted to have lower projecting arms I3 of legs 5 passtherethrough. A brace arm 32 is provided with an upwardly opening socket member 33 which is adapted to engagetheunder face of one of thecross .braces I 6. to support the legs at one. end of the table elevated above ground level, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, so that the table can be gripped at the end opposite to the wheel and moved in. a manner similar to a wheel barrow. Upon reaching the desired place of use, the end of the table carrying the wheel assembly 26 can be lifted to allow socket member 33 to be disengaged from cross brace I 6, whereupon the disengaged wheelassembly can be moved to the right, from the position shown in Figure 3, to allow the pair oftablelegs at..that end ofthe'table to'be lowered and again rest on the ground as'shown in Figure 4.

A'neater appearing and simplified form-"of 'the wheel assembly is'shown in FigurelO wherein same is shown solid lines ready; for. mobile movement of .the table, and in dotted lines atthe preferred neutral position between periods. of use.

This. construction. utilizes a forked. framefla, having conventionalwcross bracing as'indicated by dotted lines andfrom which projects brace arm. 32a adapted to contactthe underv face. of one.of. the-cross .braceselt when-.theztableds to .bemobile.

mounted. The upper end of the forked frame 27a carries aligned perforated members 35a at each side, as before, and which telescopically receive lower projecting arms I 3 of legs 5 and are preferably spaced apart'to closely" fit the ends of end member It so that the wheel assembly can be guided as it is rotated to and stored above brace member! 5 between periods of use substantially in the position shown in dotted lines.

This table assembly is not only of light weight, but when the top assembly 20 of same is disengaged and turned upside down on the ground, the other'parts of the assembly can be dismantled and the major portion 'Zof same placed inside of frame 3 of the top assembly,,and-:when seat members 9 are placed on top vof the other parts, a very compact package isformed which can bereadily fastened together with bandsor wire for storage, or protected with crating. material in casethe dismounted assembly is .to be shipped.

Othermodes of applying the principle. of my invention .may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the apparatus herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any: of the following claims. or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly pointout and distinctly claim .-as .my invention:

l. A dismountable table .assembly, comprising tabletop having a frameon its under face,.a supporting framework for .said table top, said framework including legs at each corner of same, upper and lower arms on each .leg with the-.cor..- responding. arms of thelegs ,ateachend of the table prcjectingtoward eachothena pair ofsuhstantially T-ended brace members engaging. and extending from the lowerarmsof said legsat one end of saidv table-to the. upper armsofsaicl legs at the other end of saidtable, means-for releasably fastening. said lower .arms of said. legs against spreading apart when engaged in desired position with .said substantially T-ended .br'ace member, .an anchor..member.at theuppe end of. each leg, ,and..means ontheframe of said table top for engaging the anchor member at the .upper. end f .each leg.

2..A dismountable tableassembly asset forth in. claim ,1, wherein each .of saidlegs at thecorners of said table has the lowerend .of sameturned outward and has1.a..,seat .supportingmember rigidlymounted. thereon in upright .DOSitiOlLillld a .seatmember for-each side;of.,said table, each of said seat vmembers havinga .socketmember rigidly fastened theretoadjacenteach .end there-. of in position .toreceive and hcldthe upperend of one of the corresponding pair ofsaidseatsup: portingmembers which projects upwardfrom the outturned ,endportion ofeach .of .said legs.

3. A .dismountable table assembly as set .forth in claim .1, whereinsaidanchor member .on-ithe upper. end-.ofeachv legis in the form of a substan-v tially vertical plate ,on .the.si,de of .saidleg, .said plate havingia notch inits .upperedge, and.where.-. in .said means onthe stable .topframe for engaging said anchor member includesa sidewiseprojectinguheadedmember-engagingandfitting into. said notch.

4. :A .dismountable table: assembly. asset .forth in claim 1, wherein said. anchormemberlon the upper endot each leg-is in the .formofa substantially-vertical plate. on .the -.side of .said-. leg, said plate having a notchin.its.upper.edge,andwheree in said means .onthetable .top. frame for engaging said anchor .member includes. inwar.dly .pr.o--.

j ecting headed membenzengaging.andfittinginto.

said notch, and further wherein there is means for releasably fastening said anchor member to said means on the table top frame for engaging said anchor member, such releasable fastening means consisting of a hook-ended member pivotally carried on said sidewise projecting headed member and hooking under said plate when said headed member is engaged in said notch.

5. A dismountable table assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said anchor member on the upper end of each leg is in the form of a substantially vertical plate on the outer side of said leg, said plate having a notch in its upper edge, and wherein said means on the table top frame for engaging said anchor member includes an inwardly projecting headed member engaging and fitting into said notch, and further wherein aid legs at the corners of said table each have their lower end turned outward and have a seat supporting member rigidly mounted thereon in upright position, and a seat member for each side of said table, each of said seat members havin a socket member rigidly fastened thereto adjacent each end thereof in position to receive and hold the upper end of said seat supporting members which project upward from the outturned end portion of said legs.

6. A dismountable table assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said legs at the corners of said table has the lower end of same turned outward and has a seat supporting mem ber rigidly mounted thereon in upright position, and a seat member extending along each side of said table, each of said seat members having a socket member rigidly fastened thereto adjacent each end thereof in position to receive and hold the upper end of one of said seat supporting members which projects upward from the outturned end portion of the corresponding one of a pair of said legs, and wherein the lower arms of said legs at one end of said table have mounted thereon a wheel assembly, said wheel assembly having a frame with aligned but sidewise spaced members on its upper end, said members receiving and rotatably fitting said lower arms of said pair of legs at opposite sides of said substantially T-ended brace member which joins the ends of same, a wheel rotatably mounted on the lower end of said wheel assembly frame, and a brace member projecting from said wheel assembly frame and having means engaging the under side of one of said substantially T-ended brace members with the lower end of said adjacent table legs elevated sufiiciently for mobile movement of said table on said wheel assembly, said wheel assembly being movable to an elevated position relative to the bottom of said table legs so that the latter can assume normal ground contacting position.

7. A mobile type of dismountable table assembly having seats, which comprises a table top having a frame on its under face, a supporting assembly for said table top, said supporting assembly including legs at each corner of same, upper and lower arms on each leg with the corresponding arms of the legs at each end of the table projecting toward each other, seats connected to said supporting assembly, a pair of substantially T-ended brace members engaging and extending from the lower arms of said legs at one end of said table to the upper arms of said legs at the other end of said table, means for fastening said lower arms of said legs against spreading when engaged in desired position with said substantially T-ended brace member, an anchor member at the upper end of each leg, means on the frame of said table top for engaging each of said anchor members, means for releasably fastening each of said anchor members to its corresponding engaging means on the frame of said table top, and a wheel assembly with its frame pivotally mounted on said lower arms of the legs at one end of said table, said wheel assembly having means for releasably supporting same in lowered position with the adjacent table legs lifted so as to make said table assembly mobile.

8. A dismountable table assembly as set forth in claim '7, wherein said anchor member on the upper end of each leg is in the form of a substantially vertical plate on the side of said leg, said plate having a notch in its upper edge, and wherein said means on the table top frame for engaging said anchor member includes a sidewise projecting headed member engaging and fitting into said notch.

9. A dismountable table assembly as set forth in claim '7, wherein said anchor member on the upper end of each leg is in the form of a substantially vertical plate on the outer side of said leg, said plate having a notch in its upper edge, and wherein said means on the table top frame for engaging said anchor member includes an inwardly projecting headed member engaging and fitting into said notch, and further wherein said means for releasably fastening said anchor member to said means on the table top frame for engaging said anchor member consists of a hook-ended member pivotally carried on said sidewise projecting headed member and hookin under said plate when said headed member is engaged in said notch.

10. A dismountable table assembly as set forth in claim '7, wherein said wheel assembly has a frame with aligned openings at its upper end spaced apart slightly further then the length of the end member of said substantially T-ended brace member and having the lower arms of a pair of said legs pass therethrough and act as the pivot supports for same, said wheel assembly having a wheel and means for rotatably mounting such wheel on the lower end of said frame, and a brace member projecting from said frame of the wheel assembly and engaging the under side of one of said substantially T-ended brace members with the bottom end of the adjacent table legs held in elevated position, said wheel assembly being movable about the lower arms of said legs into elevated position to a point of rest at the top of said substantially T-ended brace member to lower said table legs into normal ground contacting position.

FREDERICK J. MELGES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 247,848 ODell Oct. 4, 1881 1,096,595 Brown et a1. May 12, 1914 1,165,991 Maggs Dec. 28, 1915 2,521,160 Green Sept. 5, 1950 2,568,622 Hagan Sept. 18, 1951 

